Iraq’s Sunni tribes join fight against Al Qaeda

Earlier this week I reported this story, it appears that it may be more than talk this time.

BAGHDAD: Western Iraq’s powerful sheikhs have launched an offensive against foreign Al Qaeda extremists on their territory, they said yesterday, in an important victory for the US-backed government.

"The operation is on!" said Sheikh Abdel Sattar Baziya, head of the Abu Risha clan and chair of the Anbar province tribal council.

"The sons of Anbar’s tribes today captured three Saudis, two Syrians and three Iraqi teenagers and turned them over to police," he said.

This is not the first time that Anbar province’s Sunni tribes have pledged to turn over the Sunni insurgents in their midst, but US officers are privately delighted that they now seem to be making good on their promise.